Tube-cleaner.



No; 717,619. y PATENTED JAN.6,1903. "e. 0. RAWSON & G. W. ATTERBURY..

TUBE CLEANER.

APPLIGATION' FILED 0012s, 1901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

110 MODEL.

mm: mans on wamumm wAsmmsm UNITED STATES.

PATENT Enron.

GEORGE OFRAYVSON AND GEORGE \V. ATTERBURY, OF PITTSBUBG, PENN- SYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO WILLIAM S. ELLIOTT, OF PITTSBURG, PENN- SYLV'ANIA.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent'No. 717,619, dated January 6, 1903. Application filed October 29, 1901. Serial No. 80,453. (No model.)

. nia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tube-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in

which Figure 1 is a view in side'elevation of our improved tube-cleaner. Fig. 2 is a front end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the swinging arms extended under centrifugal action. Fig. 4 is an end View of the back. Fig. 5 is a plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail view of one of the swinging cutters. Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation, showing the tool flexibly connected with a power-imparting motor, the tool and motor being located within a tube and indicating the operation of removing scale therefrom. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showiug a modified construction. Fig. 9 is a similar View showing the arms extended. Fig. 10 is a side view of Fig 9 at right angles thereto. Fig. 11 is a detail side view of the central boring or drilling bit. Fig. 12 is a front view of the bit.

Our invention relates to the class of devices for removing scale from the interior of the tubes of boilers, pipes, tubes, 850., more particularly from the interior of the tubes of water-tube boilers, and it is especially designed tobe usedin combination witha turbine or other similar fluid-actuated or other rotary motor, one of the objects in view being to reduce the operative area of the cleaning-tool, so as to allow of free passage of water or steam, cuttings, the.

A further object of the invention is to provide both a boring or drilling element and also a freely-swinging vibrating element or elements adapted to operateupon the scale by centrifugal action and to remove the same by the operation of picking or cutting it away by a series of rapid successive blows covering the entire interior area of the tube. To this end the tool is composed of a skeleton head or holder 2, in which are pivotally mounted the longitudinally-disposed arms 3, having mounted upon their outer ends the cutters 4, composed of toothed wheels adapted to rotate about the longitudinal center of the arm exand guides forsuch portion of the arm, so that in the action of the tool under rapid rotation the arm will be firmly braced in a lateral direction. The outward motion of the arms is unrestrained in planes coincident with the longitudinal axis of the tool, while in their closed position, as in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the arms are closely assembled and further inward movement is restricted by bearing upon the inner end 7 of the slot. This portion of the construction just described closely conforms to the construction of a tube-cleaner patented by YV. S. Elliott, January 9, 1900, No. 641,092, and in Fig. 4 We have indicated by dotted lines a supplementary pair of cheeks 6 6, which may be located either in front of or behind the pair 6 6 and at right angles thereto in a manner suitable to such arrangement, as is shown in the patent to Elliott. The same construction is indicated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, such supplementary cheeks in the present instance being utilized to hold the central rigid bit.

Attached to the front of head 2 in anysuitable manner, as by screw-threads or by rivets or bolts, and extending forwardly therefrom in alinement with its center is a rigid stem or shank 8, the outer end of which is formed into or is provided with a rigid coniform or other suitably-shaped drilling or boring head 9, the purpose of which is to drill or bore centrally through a tube whichis so heavily incrusted with scale as to prevent the initial action of the swinging cutters, and such head is so arranged as to be located in advance of the swinging cutters and to clear away the scale, thus providing a central opening into which the swinging cutters will env eration.

ter as they advance and will complete the op- VVhile the rigid boring cutter or hit 9 and the rotating cutters 4 are, as shown, of coniform or tapering shape, we do not desire to be limited to such construction, but to employ other forms-as, for instance, a series of toothed disks, corrugated teeth, dc. and it will be understood that such varying forms of cutters may be substituted according to the character of the work to be per formed, the size of the tubes to be cleaned, or other circumstances which may control the design of the cutters, within the selection of the user or the skilled mechanic.

In the construction shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10 the central rigid bit 9 is formed of a piece of plate the shankSofwhich is comparatively thin, fitting in between the supplemental checks 6, to which it is secured by pins or rivets, and is of sufficient width to insure strength. The forward end is tapered to a point, and the sloping edges may be sharpened to a cutting edge or provided with teeth, as desired. A feature of advantage is that the middle portion of the head 9 may be cut out, as at 11, providing clearance for the swinging cutters 4 and permitting them to close in together, as shown in Fig. 8, thus utilizing the full outward swing without any limitation as to theininward movement, except their contact against each other. At the back end of the head 2 is a threaded or otherwise suitably-formed extension 12, adapted to engage one member of a universal coupling 13, by which the tool may be connected with a turbine-motor 14 or other suitable powerimparting motor by which the tool may be rotated within the tube, such coupling permitting the cleaner to be used in bent tubes, and While not absolutely necessary in straight tubes we have found that the great degree of flexibility which it aifords is of advantage in permitting free action of the arms. The universal coupling may, however, be dispensed with and the head screwed directly into the turbine-Wheel with satisfactory results. Any other operative mechanism may be substituted for the turbine-wheel, and, if desired, the tool may be actuated by hand or by any source of power located outside of the tube through proper shafting or other suitable connections.

The advantages of our invention will be appreciated by those accustomed to the use of tube-cleaners, especially in tubes heavily incrusted oralmost entirely filled with scale. It

is very efficient in operation with either thick or thin scale and provides a tool which may be used equally well with any thickness of deposit. It is very simple and cheap in construction, not liable to get out of order, and an especial advantage is that by reason of the pivoted bearings of the arms being made as closely adjacent as possible the cross-section of the supporting-head is reduced to a minimum, and in consequence the surrounding area for passage of the cuttings, &c., is proportionately greater.

What we claim is 1. A rotatory tube-cleaner having a head provided with lateral bearings, freely-swing ing arms pivotally mounted therein adapted to move in planes coincident with the longitudinal axis of the tool and provided at their free outer ends With toothed rotatablymounted cutters, and a central forwardlyextending tapered drill rigidly secured to the head.

2. Arotatory tube-cleaner having a head provided with lateral bearings, freely-swinging arms pivotally mounted therein adapted to move in planes coincident with the longitudinal axis of the tool and provided at their free outer ends With toothed rotatablymounted cutters, lying in planes transverse to the longitudinal center of the arms, and a central forwardly-extending drill rigidly secured to the head.

3. A rotatory tube-cleaner having a head provided with lateral bearings, freely-swinging arms pivotally mounted therein adapted to move in planes coincident with the longitudinal axis of the tool and provided at their GEORGE O. RAXVSON. GEORGE WV. ATTERBURY.

Witnesses:

CYRUS J. EARLE, H. YEARWOOD.

IOC 

